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Kurti for the bridge in Mitrovica: We will continue the consultations with our partners

2024-08-14 11:34:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Kurti for the bridge in Mitrovica: We will continue the consultations with our

Albin Kurti

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said on Wednesday that his Government will continue consultations and coordination with Kosovo's partners regarding the reopening of the bridge over the Iber River in the north.

"The opening of the bridge is not against anyone, except against international partners", said Kurti during a meeting of his Government on Wednesday.

The reopening of the bridge for vehicular traffic, which divides Mitrovica in the south with an Albanian majority and in the north with a Serbian majority, has been opposed by the international community and local Serbs. Italian KFOR soldiers are located on the bridge over the Iber River, while members of the Kosovo Police are also located near it.

The QUINT countries, the US, Britain, France, Germany and Italy, have called the Kurti Government's intention to reopen at this time unilateral. The EU has called for the bridge issue to be discussed in dialogue with Serbia.

The American ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, said in an interview with Radio Free Europe on Tuesday that there is a real danger regarding the opening of the bridge in Mitrovica at this time, which could affect the safety of NATO soldiers, including the american ones.

"We believe that this risk increases the threat, the possibility of violence and other problems, both for the local community and for NATO soldiers, including American soldiers who are working to ensure peace and security in Kosovo," said Hovenier.

The issue of the bridge was also the topic of discussion between Kurt and the commander of the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR, Ozkan Ulutash, late on Tuesday.

"We talked with the KFOR commander about the opening of the main bridge over the Iber in Mitrovica, which we consider to be a right, necessary and beneficial thing for everyone," Kurti said on Wednesday.

After Tuesday's meeting between Kurti and Ulutas, KFOR said that it is essential that all actors refrain from unilateral statements and actions that could create tensions.

"We have a visible and flexible presence throughout Kosovo and the KFOR commander has the authority to adjust it as needed and will not hesitate to act in response to any significant security developments and in accordance with our UN mandate ", they said from this mission.

A few days ago, KFOR said that it does not want to speculate on any scenario in the future, if the institutions of Kosovo ask it to remove its presence from the bridge over the river Ibër.

The Prime Minister of Serbia, Miloš Vu?evi?, said on August 14 that he believes that the Government in Kosovo is planning to "open by force" the bridge over the Iber.

"I am satisfied with the statements of the commander of KFOR. The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Serbia, Millan Mojsilovi?, had a conversation with him. I hope that everyone will be rational and not allow this to happen" , Vucevic told Radio Television of Serbia (RTS).

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Infrastructure earlier on Tuesday published an initial report on tests carried out on the bridge, saying it is "stable and functional" and that it can be put to use without any load restrictions.

In the post-war period, the bridge over the Iber River was a symbol of the riots and barricades erected by Kosovo Serbs to oppose Kosovo's efforts to establish authority in the north.

The bridge is currently only open for pedestrians, although in the framework of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, it has been agreed that it should also be opened for vehicle traffic.

Members of the Serbian community protested last week against the reopening of the bridge over the Iber. /REL